PM advises not to use mask unnecessarily



Senior Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has advised the people not to use mask unnecessary rather those who has attacked by cold or cough can use it so that it cannot infect others. The mad rush of mask purchase will create panic and price of the mask, she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the birth centenary programs of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will be celebrated in such a way so that the people do not fall in risk due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

As the lethal virus has created a panic worldwide, it’s our responsibility and duty to concentrate on the safety and health of the people. That’s why we’ve rearranged the birth centenary celebration programs of Bangabandhu, she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League (AL), was delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of AL Central Working Committee held at Ganabhaban on Monday (March 9) evening.

We want the people is not affected in anyway. We have rescheduled the (birth centenary) programs by looking at their wellbeing, though it (rescheduling) was very painful for us, she said.

The Prime Minister also urged the countrymen not to be panicked over lethal virus, which has been named as COVID-19. This virus will exist for a few days and then it will be over. So, there is nothing to be worried about it, she said. Sheikh Hasina said the weather is being changed as it is moving to summer from winter.

Naturally cold-related diseases are seen at this time and I can surely say there is nothing to be panicked in normal cold, she said.

The Prime Minister said that there is no doubt that celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation is a big event for the nation. However, we will celebrate it in a different way so that the gathering of the people is less and they don’t fall in risk, she said.

The Prime Minister said her politics and politics of Bangladesh Awami League are for the welfare of the people of the country.

That’s why, I and my younger sister Sheikh Rehana and other members of our family gave consent to reschedule the programs of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu considering public security and health, she said.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the world leaders and other guests from various countries were keen to attend the celebration, but the schedule has been changed against the backdrop of coronavirus outbreak which spread more than 100 countries.

The Prime Minister said many programs have been suspended including the children rally on the Independence Day on March 26 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

She said inaugural ceremony of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu will be held on a limited scale on March 17 next.

Sheikh Hasina said other programs including placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka and placing of wreaths at the tomb of the Father of the Nation in Tungipara, Gopalganj will be observed as per schedule.

The meeting was attended among others by AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, Advisory council member Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Matia Chowdhury, Shajahan Khan, Zahangir Kabir Nanak.

   

India's Foreign Secretary's visit to Dhaka postponed



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra's visit to Bangladesh has been postponed.

A diplomatic source confirmed the matter on Thursday (April 18).

According to sources, the visit will take place on a mutually convenient new date. This is part of the high-level exchange between Bangladesh and India and the review of the progress of the bilateral cooperation agenda of the two countries.

A message in this regard has also been given to the guests invited to attend the dinner with the Indian Foreign Secretary on April 20. It said, "The trip has been postponed."

Although no official announcement was made from Dhaka and New Delhi regarding the visit, he was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday for a brief visit.

In addition to the meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, the Indian Foreign Secretary was supposed to have a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud.

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‘Amrita Sagar’ variety banana of Narsingdi gets GI recognition



Sharif Iqbal Russel, District Correspondent, Barta24.com
Amrita Sagar

Amrita Sagar

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Narshingdi: Narsingdi's ‘Amrita Sagar’ variety banana has received Geographical Indication or GI (Geographical Indication) product recognition. Farmers are happy to get this recognition. The Deputy Commissioner said that Narsingdi's position has been taken higher.

In the context of the soil, water, and weather of a specific territory of a country, if the culture of the people there plays the most important role in the production of a product, it is recognized as a GI product of that country.

Recognition of GI is very significant in domestic and international trade. Now in the list of GI products Narsingdi’s ‘Amrita Sagar’ banana. On February 8, the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, an institution under the Ministry of Industries, granted the Geographical Indication or GI product recognition to Amrita Sagar banana of Narsingdi. The GI certificate was handed over to the Prime Minister on February 11. Banana cultivators are happy with this recognition.

According to the sources of Narsingdi Agricultural Extension Department, because of loam and sandy loam soil in Narsingdi, cultivation of Amrita Sagar banana is high here. Amrita Sagar banana is supplied to the surrounding districts and the capital to meet the local market demand.

Not only that, this banana is also being exported outside the country. In this context, an application was made by the district administration to include Narsingdi’s latkon and Amrita Sagar banana as geographical indication products in collaboration with e-commerce development center. Following the application, the authority recognized Sagar banana as a GI product after vetting the application.

Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Dr. Badiul Alam said, due to recognition as a GI product, Amrita Sagar banana will have a huge response in commercial exports in the country and abroad.

According to the information of the District Agriculture Department, Amrita Sagar banana has been cultivated in 580 hectares of land in the district this year. In this recognition, its cultivation will increase further next year, and there is optimism in the conscious community.

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242 metric tons of Indian sugar seized in Pabna, 23 detained



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
ছবি: সংগৃহীত

ছবি: সংগৃহীত

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Pabna district police seized 12 trucks with 242 metric tons of Indian sugar smuggled from India by evading customs duty. At this time, 23 people including the truck driver and helper were arrested.

They were arrested in a special operation by the District Intelligence Police on Thursday (April 18) afternoon.

Pabna Additional Superintendent of Police Masood Alam confirmed the matter.

He said that for a long time a gang was bringing illegally imported Indian sugar to the country and selling it in different districts. Based on such news, the police entered the field. Later they were arrested in a raid in the Kazirhat Ghat area. At that time they could not show the valid documents of the goods. They were later seized and 23 people were arrested.

Additional Superintendent of Police Masood Alam also said that the case is under process. Details will be given after the investigation.

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Parimoni has been summoned to appear in court



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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The court has issued a summons to the plaintiff businessman Nasiruddin Mahmud to appear in the court in the case of attempted murder in the case against the popular and criticized actress Parimani. At the same time the accused Junaid Bogdadi Jimmy asked to appear in court.

Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate M Saiful Islam gave this order on Thursday (April 18). Nasiruddin, the plaintiff in the case, had applied for the issuance of an arrest warrant against Parimoni.

The plaintiff's lawyer Abul Kalam Mohammad Sohail gave this information.

Earlier, the investigation officer of the case, police inspector Monir Hossain filed a report in the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court stating that the allegation of beating and intimidation against Parimoni and her costume designer Junaid Bogdadi Jimmy alias Jim was found to be true.

However, the report mentions that the allegations against another accused, Fatema Tuz Jannat Boni, were found to be true.

Businessman Nasiruddin filed the case in court on July 6, 2022.

In the statement of the case, it is said that Parimoni and her associates are alcoholics. Taking advantage of the opportunity, they entered various famous clubs and drink alcohol and do not pay the price with the parcel. Parimoni threatened harassment by filing false cases with police officials she knew. On June 9, 2021, after 12 midnight, the accused entered Savar's Boat Club and used the washroom on the second floor.

Later they sat inside the club and drank alcohol. When the plaintiff and his accomplice Shah Shahidul Alam were leaving the club at around 1.30 am, Parimoni purposefully called the plaintiff Nasiruddin and requested him to sit with them for some time. At one point Parimoni tried to lure Nasiruddin through obscene gestures and pressured the plaintiff to give the parcel a bottle of Blue Label alcohol free of charge.

As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Parimoni insulted the plaintiff. During an altercation between the plaintiff and the accused, Paramoni threw a serving glass at the plaintiff and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasiruddin was injured in the head and chest. Parimoni and her accomplices beat up and threatened to kill Nasiruddin and vandalized him. 

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